Tag: physical therapist

Tips About Exercises For Lower Back Pain

Searches on the internet for exercises for lower back pain continue to increase almost daily, it seems. It’s not hard to guess why. Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints seen in doctors’ offices today. More work days are being missed every year due to lower back pain. The missed work days affect everyone, not just the employee that is out of work due to lower back pain and the company they work for.

Deadlines are missed resulting in longer wait times for products and services, not to mention the smaller pay checks, which means people have less money to spend. Since many lower back injuries occur at work, a lot of companies are having to file on their Worker’s Compensation Insurance. More claims mean higher rates. Higher rate means less raises. Less raises mean money for employees to spend. Truly, lower back pain affects us all.

More and more people are turning to exercises for lower back pain instead of medication. As the FDA recalls more drugs every day, it’s no wonder people are afraid to take anything for pain. Medications can also lead to addictions. At the very least, while medications can take the pain away for a short while, they often have nasty side effects and don’t really address the root of the problem, which is the injured, lower back. Exercises for lower back pain do.

Now, bear in mind, these sorts of exercises aren’t for everybody. Before beginning any exercise routine, it’s best to talk to your doctor first. If you can, speak to a physical therapist, as well. They will be able to tell you which exercises are the best for the type of lower back pain and injury you have. You definitely don’t want to make your injury worse by doing the wrong sorts of exercises. Making the injury worse completely defeats the purpose of doing the exercises for lower back pain completely.

Once you figure out which exercises are the best for you and your individual circumstances, it’s time to work out an exercise schedule. Make a date for yourself to do your exercise every day or every other day. Be certain you check with your physical therapist the best frequency for you to follow. After the date has been made, stick to it! Your back won’t heal very well on its own. If you’re dedicated to getting better, you need to be dedicated to getting the exercises done regularly.

Also, start out slowly. Don’t rush into the exercises. Don’t feel like you need to complete a billion reps. Listen to your body as you do the exercises. They may be uncomfortable at first but they shouldn’t hurt. If they hurt, stop! Pain is your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right. Look at the instructions for how the exercise is to be done again. Make sure you were doing it right. If you were, talk to your physical therapist again about alternations to your exercises for lower back pain.

No Pain, No Gain Isn’t True of Arthritis, But Exercise

No Pain, No Gain Isn’t True of Arthritis, But Exercise Is Still Important
David Silva

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesRecent studies have shown that exercise may acually help people with arthritis in a number of ways. It can reduce joint pain and stiffness. It can increase flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance. And it can also help with weight reduction and contribute to an improved sense of well-being.Most comprehensive arthritis treatment plans should include an exercise regiment. Rest and relaxation, proper diet, medication, and instruction about proper use of joints and ways to conserve energy (that is, not to waste motion), as well as the use of pain relief methods should also be included in treatment plans.What types of exercises are best for people with arthritis? Try these three:Range-of-motion exercises to help maintain normal joint movement, relieve stiffness, and increase flexibility.Strengthening exercises to help keep or increase muscle strength. Strong muscles help support and protect joints affected by arthritis.Aerobic or endurance exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control can be important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on joints. As always, people with arthritis should discuss their options with their doctors before starting on an exercise program. Easy, range-of-motion exercises and low-impact aerobics are gennerally a good way to get started. And make sure to ask your doctor about any sports or exercise programs in which you currently participate. Some programs may do more harm than good.You should also be aware that your doctor may decide to refer you to a physical therapist. A therapist with experience in arthritis can design an appropriate home exercise program and teach you about pain-relief methods, proper body mechanics, joint protection, and conserving energy.So what’s the best way to get going? First, always first, discuss your exercise plans with your doctor.Next, start with supervision from a physical therapist or a qualified athletic trainer.Apply heat to sore joints.Stretch and warm up with range-of-motion exercises.Start strengthening exercises slowly with small weights (a 1 or 2 pound weight can make a big difference).Progress slowly.Use cold packs after exercising.Add aerobic exercise.Ease off if joints become painful, inflamed, or red and work with your doctor to find the cause and eliminate it.Like any exercise program, choose a program you enjoy and make it a habit.Range-of-motion exercises should be done at least every other day. Strengthening exercises also should be done at least every other day unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints. Endurance exercises should be done for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week unless you have severe pain or swelling in your joints.Additional information on arthritis and exercise can be found at the following resources:Arthritis FoundationThe Foundation publishes a free pamphlet on exercise and arthritis and a monthly magazine for members that provides up-to-date information on all forms of arthritis. http://www.arthritis.orgAbout Arthritis TodayInformation on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of arthritis.http://www.aboutarthritistoday.com/arthritisexercise/Spondylitis Association of America (SAA)SAA sells books, posters, videotapes, and audiotapes about exercises for people who have arthritis of the spine.http://www.spondylitis.orgAmerican College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health ProfessionalsThis association provides referrals to physical therapists who have experience designing exercise programs for people with arthritis. The organization also provides exercise guidelines developed by the American College of Rheumatology.http://www.rheumatology.org About the Author
About Arthritis Todayhttp://aboutarthritistoday.com

Controlling Pain with Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercises

Controlling Pain with Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercises
Mike Herman

If you are suffering from stiff, swollen joints and have been
diagnosed with the condition known as rheumatoid arthritis,
there is hope.

In most instances, you can continue to do the hobbies and
activities you enjoy without being plagued with pain and limited
mobility through a variety of treatment options.

Speak with your primary health care provider about medications
and alternatives, including rheumatoid arthritis exercises to
control your condition.

These alternatives are excellent ways of not only controlling
your pain and regaining motion, but also enhancing your life.

Consider enrolling in a gym that offers special rheumatoid
arthritis exercises and classes in order to start your
treatment.

Before you decide upon any rheumatoid arthritis exercises, be
sure to contact your primary health care provider.

He or she will be able to recommend special techniques that will
best benefit your situation, but also provide you with a gym or
physical therapist to ensure you are working out in the proper
method.

Aquatic Exercises & A Medicine Ball?

Many doctors recommend arthritis patients attempt some sort of
aquatic work out, since water allows you to be weightless and
your joints to experience no friction or resistance.

Another great work out is Pilates, which works with hoops and
balls to stretch your body and improve your mobility.

When using these work out techniques as a treatment for your
stiff and painful joints, remember to enter into your program
slowly.

Tackling any activity too enthusiastically can potentially
injure your body and worsen your condition.

This is especially important when using any weights, medicine
balls, or other apparatus that can cause muscle strains or
pulls.

If you are unsure on the correct techniques for using the
apparatuses, seek help from a professional to ensure you are
doing the activity correctly.

This is the same for aquatic activities, which are much more
than simply swimming laps. Consider enrolling in a specific
class just for these activities in order to broaden your
horizons and control your pain.

By using any physical activity to your advantage, arthritis
sufferers of all ages are rewarded by minimized pain and
stiffness.

Additionally, physical activities will allow individuals
suffering from this common problem by increasing mobility.

About the author:
Learn More and Get the Type of Natural Remedies for Arthritis Including
Excercise .

Deciding Which Doctor to See

If you have more than one doctor, which many people do especially athletes then it is often confusing exactly which doctor you should see. However, if you follow some simple guidelines you should find the decision much easier. Remember, seeing a doctor is a good idea in the event of an injury, however emergencies are usually best treated in an emergency room with follow up through your normal doctor.

You should first consider why you want to go to the doctor. If you have a need rather than just simply a check up then consider exactly what is needed. If you need a simple work up or even a flu shot then seeing a standard family practitioner is usually much easier and faster. However, if you have a sports related injury then it is best to see a sports medicine doctor.

As part of your sports medicine team, you are likely to have numerous doctors all working together with a physical therapist, primary doctor and various other professionals including often a surgeon. Your first stop whenever seeing a sports medicine doctor should always be to your primary physician. After visiting with them, they can determine based off your needs exactly whom you should be referred to see next. This also often has the benefit of allowing some treatment options to get started in the meantime, rather than being forced to wait until the specialist can see you.

However, it is important to note that if you only see a sports medicine doctor and do not have a standard internal medicine or family physician that you should always see your sports medicine doctor unless they recommend you see someone else. With sports medicine doctors covering a large gamut of specialties it is possible to only use sports medicine doctors if preferred.

If you are running a fever, or else have a rash that has appeared, the best doctor to often see is your primary care physician. If however, you have been experiencing leg pain then it is best to see the sports medicine doctor. Anytime you have a problem or injury that has resulted because of sports, or can impact sports it is best to see a sports medicine doctor.

In the event that you have a pressing issue that needs immediate treatment, often the decision over which doctor to see becomes blurred. This is because many times doctors have very long waits before being able to secure an appointment. If you discover that this is your problem, you best bet is to check with both doctors and see who can fit you in sooner. If neither doctor is able to see you fast enough, you may be best to see the emergency room in your area and schedule a follow up visit. While not everyone is pleased with seeing an emergency room rather than their normal doctor it is a necessary action at times where there are serious complications or in the event of an emergency.

While emergencies may mandate the usage of the emergency room, appointments that are not emergencies should be scheduled with the appropriate doctor to ensure that you receive the best care possible. For example, if you are using a sports medicine doctor and also an internal medicine doctor you should schedule your normal yearly check ups with your internal medicine doctor, as well as your yearly flu shot. However, if you are looking into creating a new exercise program or even starting a new sport then a visit to your sports medicine doctor is most appropriate.

As the number of sports medicine doctors offering varying specialties continues to increase the decision over which doctor to choose for visits is likely to become even more confusing, however you are not alone and by carefully considering the purpose of the visit, you should be able to easily determine which doctor is the best choice for your individual needs.

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